Male Aesthetic Facial Surgery

Richard D. Gentile, M.D.

It is a pleasure to be the guest editor for Male Aesthetic Facial Surgery in this edition of Facial Plastic Surgery.

Statistics show that more men are contemplating or having plastic surgery performed than ever before. Men now make up between 13% and 15% of patients undergoing plastic surgery. The upward trend for men parallels an overall trend for increased procedures across the board as baby boomers age. The media exposure afforded plastic surgery in reality and dramatic television series and cinema is also serving to boost the public's awareness of the life-enhancing properties of our specialty, which in turn increases the likelihood of greater male participation in our “looking your best” culture. The boom in male surgery is not uniquely American either. From Ozzy Osbourne to Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, across the globe more men are opting for plastic surgery. On February 23, 2003, The New York Times ran an article on plastic surgery among the men of Bogotá, Colombia. That article, which appeared on the Times' website, reported that men then accounted for 30% of cosmetic surgeries in Bogotá, up from 10% just 5 years previously. The article further stated that these figures “are a reflection of trends across Brazil, Argentina and the rest of Latin America.” European trends are similar to American trends as well.

Male motivation for undergoing plastic surgery usually centers on wanting to look younger as well a desire to remain competitive in the work force. Men may typically wait longer to come in for consultation and may have more advanced features of aging than women, but they share a common desire with their female counterparts, to look better, not different and certainly not “overdone.” The less is more principle usually applies to male plastic surgery, especially rhinoplasty.

The technical aspects of male aesthetic facial surgery differ from those of female aesthetic facial surgery, and often this results in more technically demanding procedures related to heavier and larger facial structures, increased blood supply, and facial hair. Postoperative complications may occur more frequently in men than women, particularly if they have a history of hypertension. Men also require larger doses of Botox to achieve satisfactory results. An interesting fact is that more demanding surgery may lead to less dramatic or pleasing results in men, as a recent statistic indicates that men may be less satisfied than women with their final result.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the distinguished list of contributing authors who have worked diligently on their interesting articles.